Masdar appoints US firm for headquarters

24 February 2008
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has appointed the US’ Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill (AS+GG) architecture firm to design its headquarters in its $22bn zero-emission city development, near Abu Dhabi's international airport.

Chicago-based AS+GG has teamed up with engineers Environmental Systems Design and structural engineers Thornton Tomasetti to design the environmentally-friendly building. The contract, worth $150m, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.

The design of the complex will include various sustainable systems including wind turbines, outdoor air quality monitors and building-integrated solar energy arrays. Masdar adds that the building will consume 70 per cent less water compared to a typical mixed-use building of a similar size.

Designed by Foster + Partners, the 6.5 square kilometre Masdar city site is set to be completed by 2016, in conjunction with Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Development Plan. It will eventually grow to accommodate 1,500 businesses and 50,000 residents.

The Masdar Institute of Science & Technology (MIST), the world’s first graduate university dedicated to renewable energy will be the first aspect of the city to begin construction (MEED 10:02:08).

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